Obituary: Mildred Irene (Britt) Buckner

Mildred Irene (Britt) Buckner, 89, passed into the presence of her Lord on Friday, October 19, 2012, from Tucson, AZ.

Born to Lenon O'Leary and Hettie Belle (Littrell) Britt near Kaseyville, MO, on March 13, 1923, she enjoyed the simple farm life with her 11 brothers and sisters.

She graduated from Macon High School in 1941 and married Estel Buckner in the same year.

At the beginning of World War II, Mildred worked at the St. Louis Arsenal, inspecting .50 caliber machine gun ammunition while her husband worked on bomb construction until drafted in the U.S. Army in late 1943.

Upon Estel's discharge from the Army in 1946, they bought a farm near Glasgow, MO, where they raised cattle, hogs, and tobacco.

In 1955, following the extreme drought years, Estel, Mildred, and their sons, Eldon, Don, and Ray, moved to Tucson, AZ, where daughters, Linda and Nona were born.

Mildred retired from Hughes Aircraft Company in 1986 and spent her time teaching Sunday School at Calvary Baptist Church, making quilts, and traveling.

She is survived by five children, Eldon Buckner of Baker City, OR, Donald Buckner of Cairo, MO, Raymond Buckner of Tucson, AZ, Linda Duncan of Tucson, AZ, and Nona Wade of Tucson, AZ; two daughters-in-law; Hope and Karen; two sons-in-law, David Duncan and Mike Wade; eight grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.

Funeral service will be held on Saturday, November 3, 2012, at 2:00 p.m., with visitation one hour prior at the Hebron Church near Kaseyville, MO. Interment will immediately follow in the Hebron Cemetery.